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Toronto Maple Leafs goalies Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer head to the dressing room following their loss to Vancouver Canucks in their NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia February 18, 2012.

(Reuters)

Toronto Maple Leafs goalies Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer head to the dressing room following their loss to Vancouver Canucks in their NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia February 18, 2012.

According to a team source, veteran coach Francois Allaire has decided to leave the franchise after three years of trying times in the Leafs crease.

Allaire, who rose to prominence as Patrick Roy’s coach with the Montreal Canadiens 27 years ago, had a sterling reputation when he arrived in Toronto, having won three Stanley Cups with the Habs and Anaheim Ducks.

The Leafs netminders, however, struggled mightily under his guidance, and Toronto never finished higher than 21st in large part due to allowing so many goals.

Allaire had joined the Leafs due to his strong connection to GM Brian Burke, who came over from the Ducks in November of 2008 and brought his goalie coach in the following summer.

Problem was, Allaire wasn’t given much to work with, as Vesa Toskala, Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jonas Gustavsson all struggled through injuries or inconsistency.

Only youngster James Reimer, who remains the team’s top goaltender, had any success. Reimer had a career 34-24-9 record and .911 save percentage under Allaire.

Given his credentials from prior to joining the Leafs, it is widely expected Allaire could land with another NHL team when the lockout ends.

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